Buffalo Bills News - March 7, 2002

Jets Add Playmaker [5:18 AM]New York Newsday reports:
'Cowart's negotiations with the Bills hit a snag, apparently because Buffalo wanted his salary in 2003 reduced if he got hurt in 2002. There is no such clause in the Jets' contract. However, Cowart is eligible for up to a $6-million option bonus next March, which is partially based on playing time. If exercised, the bonus would be prorated over the final five years of the deal for cap purposes.'

Tennessee loses Fisk to Chargers [5:17 AM]Nashville Tennessean reports:
'Safety Blaine Bishop spent yesterday in Buffalo visiting with the Bills while receiver Chris Sanders, released by the Titans last week, has drawn interest as well.'

Texans zero in on Wong, Bradford [5:16 AM]Houston Chronicle reports:
'Meanwhile, negotiations with free-agent quarterback Rob Johnson are at a stalemate. The Texans are holding firm to their one-year, $1 million commitment, and Johnson has said Houston is where he wants to be and that money won't be an issue. Nevertheless, he and his agent have not pulled the trigger on the deal.'

Ex-Ram Fletcher replaces Cowart [5:12 AM]D and C reports:
'A tenacious player who goes sideline-to-sideline, the Bills like Fletcher because he'll be able to anchor the middle of their 4-3 defense and stay on the field on passing downs, either in coverage or to blitz.'

Cowart back with Cottrell on rival Jets [5:11 AM]D and C reports:
'"I was lobbying for Sam since I got here," said Cottrell, who joined the Jets last year. "I never thought we could pull this off because he's one of those rare players. Needless to say, I was jumping up and down when it happened."'

Steelers, Bruener agree on new deal [5:08 AM]Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports:
'The Steelers also are trying to bring another player home, former Pitt tight end Dave Moore, who was released by Tampa Bay for salary cap purposes...Moore was in Buffalo yesterday.'

Steelers kicker to visit Buffalo [5:07 AM]Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports:
'Steelers kicker Kris Brown will get lots of frequent-flier miles, not much rest and, perhaps, a new place to play next week. Add Buffalo to his travel itinerary, after the Bills scheduled a meeting with Brown for next Tuesday and Wednesday.'

March 6, 2002

Jets pick up Cowart [9:42 PM]New York Times reports:
'"This," said Cottrell, who was disappointed in not getting a head- coaching position, "is one of the best days I've had in a long while."'

Bills land Fletcher to lead defense [9:21 PM]WGRZ-TV reports:
'Already, some NFL observers think the Bills are better off with Fletcher leading their defense, than they would have been with Cowart and the uncertainty of his achilles injury.'

Jets sign free agent LB Cowart to multi-year contract [9:05 PM]Sportsticker reports:
'"I feel very fortunate that the Jets showed so much interest in me," Cowart said. "Obviously, coming off an injury like I did ... some teams stayed away from me. The Jets believed in me."'

Fletcher agrees to sign with Bills [9:03 PM]AP reports:
'A three-down linebacker, and three-year starter, Fletcher led the NFC champion Rams with 90 tackles last season, and was referred to as "an integral part of the team,'' by St. Louis coach Mike Martz.'

What's fair is fair in the Johnson/Flutie flack [7:05 PM]ESN reports:
@ I criticized Dougie for his ill-advised remarks, whenever he was out of Buffalo. Naturally, Flutie fans roasted me, toasted me, skewered me and broiled me from one side to the other. Now, you find your trembling tiny tot of the kilowatt showing you that this adoring little bumpkin is fair.
The point is that Rob Johnson is gone. He should have kept his mouth shut. He couldn't hold back his lip, just like Flutie, and had to come out with what can be perceived as a little self serving, if not vindictive assessmemt. He, like Flutie, served up a big platter of negative rhetoric in conducting pity parties.

Donahoe comments on Sam Cowart [6:51 PM]BuffaloBills.Com reports:
TD gives the impression that despite numerous efforts to keep him in a Bills Uniform, Cowart may have wanted to leave regardless.

London Fletcher visits Bills - Comments to the media [6:50 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
@ Q: Are you ready to sign on the dotted line? A: I have some other trips planned. It's a process. There are some other things that have to be met. So far so good, the organization definitely has a strong interest in me and I have a strong interest in them otherwise I wouldn't be here. I was the first guy they brought in so that shows they are definitely interested. I'm still scheduled to visit with Detroit and Pittsburgh.

AFC Needs: Buffalo [6:29 PM]ESPN reports:
@ The hole: Alex Van Pelt is being paid around $1 million a year to be either the backup or the starting QB, but new OC Gilbride cannot live with just one QB. That's why Gilbride and the Bills management walked around the combine over the weekend looking for agents who had QBs, as well as checking out all of the QBs who were throwing in the RCA Dome.

The solutions: It's pretty simple. Sign Jeff Blake. For some reason, the Bills are wondering if Blake has a lingering ankle problem from the 2000 season. He's had a year on the sidelines as Aaron Brooks' backup to rest the ankle, so he should be fine. Blake and Jonathan Quinn are the two veterans the Bills are talking to, but Blake is the right fit.

LB Cowart to join Jets [3:41 PM]CBS Sportsline reports:
'"We're jumping up and down with joy to sign him," said one Jets team source. "He's one of the top two or three backers in the game."'

QB Market - too many pegs and/or too few holes [2:22 PM]The Sporting News reports:
@ With Miller and Dilfer resigning, that leaves a few too many pegs and/or too few holes, and the QB market figures mostly to be on mute. The Bills might be interested in tabbing Jeff Blake, who could compete for the starting job. Rob Johnson reportedly is headed to Houston, where he will do the Texans absolutely no good in three games before getting hurt.

Linebacker Cowart will be reunited with Cottrell [1:18 PM]ESPN reports:
@ For months the Bills and middle LB Sam Cowart have argued in negotiations over how much risk the team should assume in a long-term contract following a season in which he partially tore an Achilles tendon. The AFC East rival Jets were willing to take more of the risk and will now put Cowart against the Bills twice a year. Cowart agreed to a six-year, $31 million contract that included a $1.8 million signing bonus and a play-time option bonus in 2003 that could be as much a $6 million.

Cowart now a NJ Jet - Bills looking seriously at Fletcher and others [1:17 PM]WNSA reports:
@ With Sam Cowart now a New York Jet, the Bills will be really looking at London Fletcher who played for the St. Louis Rams. He's 5'11", 241 pounds and was the top tackler for the Rams. In 2000 he recorded 133 tackles with 5.5 sacks and last season added 199 stops with 4.5 sacks. He also picked off 6 passes in the last two years.

Now with Rob Johnson definitely out of Buffalo (and reportedly eager to join the Houston Texans) the QB situation also needs to be addressed. Up comes the name of Jonathan Quinn. Already chants of "The Mighty Quinn" might be ringing around Orchard Park.

Bills foundation grant aids day camp [8:58 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'The Summer Days program run by the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers has received a $5,000 grant from the Buffalo Bills Youth Foundation.'

2002 NFL Mock Draft Tracker [7:59 AM]TBD reports:
Now that March is arrived it is time to seriously focus on the upcoming draft. Keep track of mock drafts around the internet with our Mock Draft Tracker!

Bills planning to interview Jaguars' Quinn [5:10 AM]D and C reports:
'The cap-strapped Jaguars can't pay Quinn more than the veteran minimum to return, but money is not the issue for him, opportunity is. That makes the Bills attractive.'

McKinney accepts 5-year Texans deal [5:08 AM]Houston Chronicle reports:
'Meanwhile, it's just a matter of time before free-agent quarterback Rob Johnson officially is a Texan, if you listen to the native Californian. Johnson has made it clear Houston is his first choice and that he is willing to take less money to play for the Texans, who are prepared to make a one-year, $1 million commitment to the former Buffalo Bill.'

March 5, 2002

Carpenter knows Phillips' defensive system [9:36 PM]ESPN reports:
@ The first effect of hiring Wade Phillips as the Atlanta Falcons' defensive coordinator came Tuesday when ESPN.com learned that the team reached a contract agreement in principle with free safety Keion Carpenter.